Government to import gas from Iran and Turkmenistan to ensure energy security : Atif Ikram Sheikh

Lahore : Business community of Pakistan unconditionally support decision of the government to expedite import of gas from Iran and Turkmenistan to ensure energy security, a business leader said Wednesday.

Government has allocated Rs 25 billion for the development of gas infrastructure which is laudable but the amount should be doubled, said Atif Ikram Sheikh, former president ICCI.

In a statement issued here today, he said that construction of dozens of power plants, decision to import of gas from Iran and Turkmenistan and other steps speaks of the priorities of the government to settle energy crisis which will boost GDP by three percent.

These initiatives of the Nawaz administration will improve production, boost exports and reduce unemployment, he added.

Atif Ikram Sheikh said that TAPI is supported by US, World Bank and ADB while IPI is still under sanctions but government continue to find a way to start import of gas.

As soon as any opportunity is found, Pakistan will start construction of its part of gas pipe line stretched over 781 kilometres and complete it in thirty months.

The business leader noted that IPI deal was inked decades back and now the situation has changed therefore Iran should revise the Gas Sales Purchase Agreement to make it attractive to Pakistan.

He said that both the pipelines will transport around four billion cubic metres of gas to Pakistan per day which will change the fate of the country therefore the projects should be finalised without any delay.